As the Atlanta Hawks explore different ways to improve their roster in the short-term, the Dallas Mavericks should be square in their sights. Kyrie Irving is entering the latter stage of his career, and he’s going to be fresh off a major injury, but he could still be a very useful piece in Atlanta. And a trade for him could help raise the Hawks’ ceiling significantly.
Last postseason, CJ McCollum was the Hawks’ go-to perimeter scorer in the playoffs. He did a solid job, taking two games off the soon-to-be-champions New York Knicks. McCollum will be back in town this year, but the Hawks shouldn’t shy away from potential upgrades. And if Irving proves to be healthy, he would certainly be an upgrade.
If Irving doesn’t fit well alongside Cooper Flagg, or the Mavericks just decide to trade him and extract value, then the Hawks should definitely make a call and see if they can snag the veteran star.
Kyrie Irving could be ideal Hawks trade target
At his best, Irving is one of the most impressive scorers in the league. He can create his own shot on a whim and make things happen out of thin air. That’s the type of thing the Hawks need.
The way the Hawks are currently constructed, they don’t really have enough reliable shot creation on the perimeter. McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are still their best bets, and that’s not quite good enough to make a deep playoff run.
That’s where Irving could come into play, should he return to anywhere close to peak form. He’s the exact type of player who could elevate the Hawks into a much better playoff team than they are right now.
In an ideal world, Irving could help Flagg develop and help the Mavericks avoid the lottery’s new relegation zone. But perhaps they would rather sell on the star point guard.
That’s what ESPN’s Tim MacMahon mentioned as a possibility, specifically mentioning that teams are keeping an eye on how Irving fits next to Flagg and into the Mavs’ future plans:
“Teams across the league are intrigued by how, or if, the 34-year-old Irving fits in the Mavericks' long-term plans as the franchise prioritizes building around its teenage prodigy. A healthy Irving, who has averaged 25.5 points and 5.1 assists per game in a Mavs uniform, could be a prime target for contenders before the trade deadline if new Dallas president Masai Ujiri is willing to engage in those discussions.”
Atlanta would be one of the most interesting landing spots for Irving in a trade. He would get the chance to be a co-star right alongside Jalen Johnson in terms of shot creation.
But while Johnson would handle most of the downhill creation and a lot of the playmaking, Irving would be able to get things done at the three-point line. Because Atlanta’s three-point shooting isn’t amazing.
If Irving becomes available, the Hawks should definitely reach out to Dallas.
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